Anchor for pool cover

ABSTRACT

An anchor for a pool cover, the anchor being affixable to a peripheral surface of an area surrounding the pool via a fastener, and having a cylindrical base with a flat surface on one side configured for placement on the peripheral surface, a post extending from an opposite side of the base, and having a shaft and a cylindrical head, the cylindrical head having a diameter less than a diameter of the cylindrical base, and a throughbore extending from the head, through the shaft and terminating in the flat surface, the throughbore being configured to receive a portion of the fastener and allow the received portion to extend beyond the base to disengagingly affix the base to the peripheral surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional application No. 63/251,366, filed Oct. 1, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of swimming pool coverings and, more particularly, to the field of anchors to which drawbar assemblies are mounted to maintain a pool cover in place over a pool.

2. Related Art

Currently in the art, when securing pool covers over a pool a plurality of drawbar assemblies are mounted between straps of a pool cover. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 , conventionally fixed mounting anchors 100 are arranged at, and affixed in, surrounding material 102 of the pool, such as pavers, cement or wood decking.

In such conventional pool anchors, a closed end 104 of a drawbar 106 is looped over an upstanding stud 108 of the fixed mounting anchor, and the other end is attached to an adjustable strap 110 connected to the pool cover. The upstanding stud is typically retractable with respect to the anchor base such that the stud is extended when the pool cover is installed and retracted when the pool cover is removed. The adjustable strap is tightened to removably fix the drawbar and, hence, the strap and pool cover, to the fixed anchor.

A problem with known assemblies is that the mounting anchors are often permanently fixed to the material surrounding the pool and are so-positioned when such material is installed, such as in the case of concrete, wood or brick pavers. When the cover is in place, such an assembly is not a concern because the pool is closed for the season.

However, when the pool is opened, i.e., when the cover is removed, the mounting anchors will remain in place, and even though the studs will be retracted, the presence of the studs creates an unsightly appearance around the pool.

Moreover, there may be some discomfort to bare feet which come in contact with the permanent anchors. In situations where the anchors are removed, the mounting holes needed to attach the anchors to the mounting surface are relatively large — typically around 1″ in diameter, leaving an unsightly appearance around a periphery of the pool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, it is an object of the invention to provide a removable anchor. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a pool cover anchor is provided with a functionality that allows the anchor to be removed from a mounting surface so that such anchors are no longer permanent during in season use of the swimming pool, i.e., when a cover is removed from the pool.

In a first aspect of the present invention, an anchor for a pool cover is disclosed, the anchor being affixable to a peripheral surface of an area surrounding the pool includes: a cylindrical base 12 with a flat surface 14 on one side configured for placement on the peripheral surface; and a post 16 extending from an opposite side 18 of the base 12. The post 16 has a shaft 19 and a cylindrical head 20, the cylindrical head 20 having a diameter less than a diameter the cylindrical base 12. The anchor further comprises a througbore 30 that extends from the head, through the shaft 19, and terminates in the flat surface 14.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a prior art anchor and drawbar for securing a pool cover;

FIG. 2 shows a prior art anchor and drawbar of FIG. 1 with straps for tightening the pool cover;

FIGS. 3A to 3D are views of an anchor according to the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are side and top views, respectively, of the anchor of FIGS. 3A to 3D with a screw; and

FIG. 5 shows a hole in a peripheral surface around a pool once the anchors according to the present invention have been removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A removable anchor in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D and FIGS. 4A and 4B.

The removable anchor is configured as a unitary construction member 10 having a circular, i.e., cylindrical, base 12 with a flat surface 14 on one side configured for placement on a corresponding relatively flat surface surrounding a swimming pool. The anchor includes a post 16 arranged so as to extend upward from an opposite side 18 of the base 12. The post 16 has a shaft 19 and a head 20.

The shaft 16 protrudes so as to extend from the base 12 to the head 20. The head 20 is generally cylindrical and has a diameter that is wider than that of the shaft 19 but smaller than a diameter of the base 12.

As best seen in FIG. 3D, the shaft 19 has a taper 22 proximate the head 20 and extending outward as it approaches the head 20. Preferably the overall shape of the anchor according to the present invention will allow for conventional drawbars, such as drawbars 104 in FIG. 1 , to be used to loop around and rest in the relatively narrow area of the shaft 19 and the taper 22 thereof between the base 12 and the head 20 as pool cover straps, such as those shown in FIG. 2 , are tightened.

As seen in FIGS. 3A to 3D, a throughbore 30 is axially arranged so as to pass through the entire post 16 and the entire base 12. In particular, the throughbore 30 can be viewed as starting at an entrance in the head 20, passing through the shaft 19, and through the base 12 and exiting out of the flat side 14 of the base 12.

Chamfered surfaces are preferably formed at various locations and surfaces of the member 10. Specifically a chamfered surface 32 is formed at the periphery of the head 20. Another chamfered surface 34 is formed at the bottom of the base 12, along it lower periphery.

Similarly, chamfered surfaces 36 are formed at each end of the throughbore 30. That is, a chamfered surface 36 is arranged/formed at the end of the throughbore 30 that terminates at the flat surface 14, as visible in FIGS. 3A and 3C, and another chamfered surface 36 is arranged/formed at the other end of the throughbore 30 that terminates at the uppermost surface of the head 20, as can be seen in FIG. 3B for example.

The dimensions of the anchor are selected to allow plural ones of the anchors to be installed around a periphery surface of a swimming pool, such as in a deck, cement pavers, concrete, brick, or the like, by the use of a screw 40 (e.g., a concrete screw, etc.), as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The screw 40 is configured and dimensioned with respect to the anchor 10, so as to be extended through the throughbore 30 of the anchor, and then driven into the periphery surface, so as to tightly and securely, but removably, mount the anchor thereto.

The screw 40 has a screw head 42 having a flanged base 42 b having a diameter larger than the throughbore opening on the anchor head 20. As can be seen in the view of FIG. 4B, the screw head 42 also has a somewhat narrower drive portion 42 a, as a drive, for example a hexagonal drive portion, which allows the screw 40, once arranged in the throughbore 30, to be driven into the periphery surface, preferably by use of a drill, such that only the screw 40 will extend into the surface while the flat surface 14 of the base rests tightly on the periphery surface, held in place by the screw head 42 against the anchor head 20.

Once so-mounted, the end of a standard drawbar, such as drawbar 104 in FIG. 1 , can be extended over the anchor head 20 to rest on the post 16, in the manner discussed above, and then the straps of the cover can be tightened in the conventional manner shown in FIG. 2 .

As will be understood, the use of the anchor having the throughbore 30, combined with a screw 40 of an appropriate diameter and length, will securely affix the anchor to the periphery surface, but will only cause a relatively small hole (i.e. the diameter of the screw 40) in the periphery surface. Thus, the anchoring mechanism and technique of the present invention provide a secure base of the anchor, by having the large flat surface 14 be the area of contact between the anchor and the periphery surface, but without the disadvantages of the prior art anchors that, even if they can be removed, will leave a hole the size of the bottom surface of the anchor, typically around 1″ in diameter. This will leave an unsightly appearance around a periphery of the pool, and that, if left in as permanent anchors, may cause discomfort to bare feet which come in contact with the permanent anchors during swimming season.

This is because, rather than the prior art technique of leaving a portion of the anchor in the periphery surface behind once the cover is no longer needed, or leaving a hole the size of the base of the anchor, in the present invention the relatively small hole made by the screw is all that remains when the cover and anchors have been removed, e.g., during swimming season.

Such removal of the inventive anchor can be effected by first removing the cover, by detaching the drawbars from the posts and then using a drill or other driver to remove the anchors and screws from the periphery surfaces around the pool.

Because the diameter of the screw is small relative to the prior art anchors, only small holes 50 remain once the screw is removed, as shown in FIG. 5 , thereby improving the aesthetic appearance of the property surrounding the pool, compared to conventional anchors.

In a preferred embodiment, the flat surface 14 of the base of the anchor can contain a coating, such as rubber, plastic or the like to prevent discoloration of the surface of the concrete, cement, etc. when the anchors are removed.

It is contemplated that the anchors can be formed of steel, aluminum, brass or any other durable material known in the art. As mentioned above, the anchor and the screw are configured and dimensioned for the above purpose and to permit the anchor to interface with known drawbars and straps.

Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

1. An anchor for a pool cover, the anchor being affixable to a peripheral surface of an area surrounding an in-ground pool via a fastener, the anchor comprising: a cylindrical base with a first side having a flat surface and a diameter for placement of the flat surface on the peripheral surface of the area surrounding the in-ground pool, and a second side; a post extending from the second side of the cylindrical base, and having a shaft and a cylindrical head distal from the second side, the cylindrical head having a diameter less than the diameter of the cylindrical base, and a throughbore extending through the cylindrical head, through the shaft and terminating in the flat surface of the cylindrical base, the throughbore being configured to receive a portion of the fastener and allow the portion of the fastener received to extend beyond the flat surface of the cylindrical base and into the peripheral surface of the area surrounding the in-ground pool to disengagingly affix the base to the peripheral surface of the area surrounding the in-ground pool, wherein the flat surface of the first side of the cylindrical base contacts the peripheral surface.
 2. The anchor according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is a screw having a screw head, the screw head having a flanged base of a diameter greater than that of the throughbore.
 3. The anchor according to claim 1, wherein both the ends of the throughbore are chamfered.
 4. The anchor according to claim 1,wherein a spacing between the shaft and the cylindrical head is sized and dimensioned to accommodate a loop of a pool cover strap.
 5. The anchor according to claim 1, wherein the anchor is uniformly formed.
 6. The anchor according to claim 1, wherein the anchor is formed of one or more of steel, aluminum, brass and ceramic.
 7. The anchor according to claim 2, wherein the anchor is configured and dimensioned with respect to the screw so as to permit the screw to be extended through the throughbore of the anchor, and then driven into the periphery surface, so as to tightly and securely, but removably, mount the anchor thereto.
 8. A method for removably affixing an anchor for a pool cover to a periphery surface surrounding the pool, the anchor having a cylindrical base with a flat surface on one side configured for placement on the peripheral surface, a post extending from an opposite side of the base and having a shaft and a cylindrical head, the cylindrical head having a diameter less than a diameter of the cylindrical base, and the anchor further having a throughbore that extends from the head, through the shaft, and terminates in the flat surface, the method comprising: placing the anchor on the peripheral surface with the flat surface of the cylindrical base contacting the peripheral surface; providing an anchoring fastener configured as a screw having an elongate threaded portion and a screw head; engaging the screw into the anchor by first passing the threaded portion through the throughbore until the threaded portion partially extends beyond the base; applying a torqueing force to the screw head to drive the threaded portion into the peripheral surface until the screw head meets axial resistance from the post; looping a pool cover strap drawbar so as to be extended over the anchor head to rest on the post; and tightening the strap of the pool cover. 